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Gary Payton fueled LeBron-to-Lakers rumors

Andrew Joseph
Published 7:32 p.m. ET June 11, 2018

The NBA offseason is unpredictable, so leave it to former NBA All-Star Gary Payton to add fuel to the LeBron James Lakers fire.

Payton told Black Sports Online that LeBron's 13-year-old son, LeBron "Bronny" James Jr., had committed to Sierra Canyon High School near Los Angeles. Sierra Canyon has produced basketball talents like Marvin Bagley III and 2019 five-star prospect Cassius Stanley. There just doesn't appear to be any truth to Payton's remark.

Payton said:

"His son just committed to Sierra Canyon, which is in the valley of LA. That's where his son's gonna go to school."

Lakers reporter Chris Palmer tweeted that Bronny had not committed to Sierra Canyon.

Just talked to a Sierra Canyon official on the rumor that Bronny James has committed: "That's news to us. He hasn't."

"I used to hang out with him when we were younger," Scotty Jr. said. "I feel like we would all gel together if he came. It would make sense for him to come here because it would take all of the pressure off of him playing-wise. We all feel the same pressure. I don't know if he's coming, but of course, we would love to have him."

Yet, Payton's comments did more than enough to ignite the speculation. Prominent basketball accounts quickly jumped on the news.